Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi

89 reviews

knables's review

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Terminal illness, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

kellyofcali's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A book about family, and love, and self-love, I think - I really enjoyed the way Choi writes, and quickly become invested in June and Jayne, two different sisters who share a lot (as sisters do). I found the ending a little weak, but endings are tough. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Eating disorder, Medical content, Self harm, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual content, Grief, Mental illness, Abandonment, Addiction, and Chronic illness

valentina_legge's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I almost abandoned it because of the cancer theme, but I was pleased to see that it was tackled pretty well.

Beautiful, subtle depiction of family dynamics. 

Loved her writing in her previous novels, but it was especially precise in this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Vomit, and Eating disorder

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Sexual assault

veronicats's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I definitely cried, just wish it was a little faster paced. And some of the little subplots were unnecessary. Still enjoyed it overall 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Blood, Vomit, Cancer, Eating disorder, Medical content, Bullying, Infertility, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Cursing

ale__b23's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcohol

leannanecdote's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Grief, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Classism, Cursing, Abandonment, Blood, Cultural appropriation, Medical content, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Racism, Vomit, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Sexual content

gigireadswithkiki's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This book was DEVASTATING and I loved every single page! Mary H. K. Choi's writing is ethereal, expertly weaving backstory within the frame of the immersive current timeline. The story was engaging and emotional, filling readers with pity and sympathy for the main character. Jayne was the absolute WORST, BUT her character growth and personal development were unparalleled, showing a troubled teen girl that I cannot help but empathize with. This book will stay with me for a while, and I encourage curious readers to pick it up after checking out content warnings! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Cancer, Alcohol, Mental illness, Vomit, Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Sexual content, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Bullying

michaelion's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Fuck I wish I wasn't an only child.

I hate contemporary references in books with a passion but this one isn't that bad.

My only issue is Jayne is constantly said to be an emotional character but reading through I can barely get a sense of her thought process. She does things / takes actions at random,

for example: kicking out jeremy, going with june to the doctor,

and there was no build up or explanation as to why she decided to do those things. Actually it didn't have to be explained, but those moments felt random from a character whose thoughts we're exclusively able to read. Makes the character feel plot-driven as opposed to character-driven, but the story as a whole doesn't feel the same.

I guess my other issue is misused AAVE. But also... Asian American? From Texas? New York transplants? Color me shocked.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Dysphoria, Self harm, Vomit, Abandonment, Blood, Addiction, Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Classism, Bullying, Death, Mental illness, Racism, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Medical content, Fatphobia, Infertility, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, and Xenophobia

Minor: Racial slurs and Stalking

katievh's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit and Eating disorder

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Body shaming, and Cancer

Minor: Misogyny, Blood, Racial slurs, and Cursing

yeimyaileen's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

i really liked this, maybe because none of the characters were loveable or “good”. I couldn’t put it down, and while ive never experienced this specific kind of sibling dynamic, it felt real. family is a weird trap we opt in and out of. 
edit: also a bit insufferable with that one conversation in the middle of the book about race, it barely scratches the surface of identity, but im sure it was cathartic for someone <3

please read content warnings before u read this book!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder

Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, and Vomit